Al Lundeen - (916) 440-7259
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today warned consumers not to eat Wo Chong brand alfalfa and clover sprouts because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. Routine laboratory testing of Wo Chong sprouts were found contaminated with Salmonella.“Consumers, especially infants, young children and the elderly, are susceptible to serious infection when exposed to Salmonella,” said Dr. Mark Horton, director of CDPH. “Today’s warning is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of foods sold in California.”The Wo Chong sprouts are packaged in 4-ounce plastic containers and 1-pound plastic bags. The 4-ounce plastic containers have either a green or red two inch round sticker on them. The green stickers have the words “Alfalfa Sprouts” in the center and the red stickers have the words “Clover Sprouts” in the center. “Wo Chong Co., Inc.” and UPC codes are listed on the bottom of the stickers. The UPC code for alfalfa sprouts is 027862000108. The UPC code for clover spouts is 027862003017. The one-pound plastic bags have 3-inch square labels with “Clover Sprouts” in red letters and a circular blue Wo Chong symbol in the upper left corner on the front side of the bag.Salmonellosis is an acute bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever and vomiting. Symptoms usually develop within one to four days after eating contaminated food. Most cases resolve without the need for medical attention. However, some individuals with salmonellosis develop serious illness that can lead to hospitalization.No illnesses have been reported from these products, but alfalfa and clover sprouts have previously been linked to outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli O157 infections.Consumers who purchased these products should immediately discard them or return them to the point of purchase for a refund.
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